Aftermath: Rangers 3, Penguins 2 OT

Three goals were scored by both teams in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime. After both team’s counterpunched, it was Ryan Callahan who slipped a puck past Marc-Andre Fleury to give the Rangers the win.

The Penguins started the late offensive explosion with two goals in a 38-second span to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead with 1:53 remaining in the third period.

But then it was the Rangers’ turn to mount a comeback as Marc Staal got deep on a play and tied the game, 2-2, with 1:26 left in the third frame – setting the stage for Callahan’s OT heroics.

Until the late third-period scoring outburst, the game was a goaltenders’ duel.

The Penguins carried the majority of the play against the New York Rangers and created numerous scoring chances, but goaltender Henrik Lundqvist played an exceptional game between the pipes.

Pittsburgh outshot the Rangers, 39-25, and dominated zone time, but will have to settle for one point in the standings thanks to the clichéd “hot goaltender.”

Sidney Crosby helped spur the Penguins’ comeback by setting up the late game-tying goal in the third period. Crosby’s centering pass was poked into the net by Chris Kunitz.

Despite the loss, that play allowed the Penguins to steal one point out of the contest.

Crosby was lights-out dominant in the circle against the Rangers. He went 25-7 on the evening for a 78-percent winning rate. His 25 faceoff wins set a new career high. Crosby also topped the 4,000 faceoff wins in his career. He was two shy entering the contest.

The game looked like it was going to go in Pittsburgh’s favor after the Penguins scored two goals 38 seconds apart late in the third period to take a 2-1 lead with 1:53 to play.

Despite blowing the 1-0 lead, and being shorthanded, the Rangers didn’t quit and were rewarded for their effort. Marc Staal found a loose puck near the Pittsburgh crease and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Marc-Andre Fleury.

With that goal the fate of the game was changed. The Rangers avoided a loss and escaped the game with two points.

(AP) - Ryan Callahan scored 3:38 into overtime and the New York Rangers won their third consecutive game, scoring twice over the final 5:04 to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 on Monday night.

Callahan tapped in a perfect feed from Brandon Dubinsky on a 2-on-1 break for his fifth of the season and first in seven games. Dubinsky, who also assisted on Marc Staal's tying, short-handed goal with 1:26 left in regulation, made a nice move to get around defenseman Paul Martin before setting up Callahan.

• Chris Kunitz has four points (3G-1A) in his last five games. He's boasts a plus-3 rating over that span.

• Two former Penguins teammated up to give New York a 1-0 lead halfway through the game. Ruslan Fedotenko got the puck to Erik Christensen in the slot. Christensen sent a turning shot on goal that deflected off of Deryk Engelland’s skate and hopped over Marc-Andre Fleury’s shoulder.

• With the overtime loss, the Penguins are now 12-0-4 at home in their last 16 games against the Rangers. Pittsburgh hasn’t lost at home in regulation to New York since Jan. 19, 2006.